The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye it is the end of the year and the end of the year is approaching.

At this time, the Zhangtai Palace in the royal city of Xianyang welcomed the last grand court of the First Emperor in his 35th year.

It was a sunny day, but cold and windy. The streets and alleys of Xianyang were filled with a festive atmosphere as people busily prepared for the New Year.

Inside Zhangtai Palace, a solemn and dignified atmosphere prevailed. Civil and military officials entered the palace in order of rank, dressed in court robes, marching in unison and with solemn expressions.

The First Emperor sat on his high dragon throne, looking down at his ministers. His face had lost its former radiance and majesty, his eyes were tired, and his body had become obese. His face was pale, his hair was gray, and he looked much older than before.

However, despite this, he still maintained a firm demeanor, as if telling the world that he was still the invincible emperor.

The First Emperor's gaze, like a torch, slowly swept over the courtiers. He sat upright on the dragon throne, dignified and solemn, like an unshakable god. He said, "Do you have anything to report?"

Zhao Gao, the Grand Coachman, walked out from among the ministers, bowed, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, today the world has been unified for more than ten years, and there is peace and prosperity throughout the country. This is all due to your wise decisions and divine power!" His eyes were full of flattery and admiration.

The First Emperor nodded slightly, a barely perceptible smugness flickering across his lips. His gaze fell on Zhao Gao, seemingly examining something.

Zhao Gao continued, "Your Majesty resisted the Huns in the north and defended against the Baiyue in the south, ensuring stability on the border and allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment. Your Majesty's military achievements truly make you a king for all ages!" His words were full of passion, as if he was praising the great achievements of the First Emperor.

The First Emperor was even more pleased with himself after hearing this. He straightened his body and said in a resounding voice, "My achievements are unmatched." He glanced at his ministers, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes.

Feng Jie also hurriedly stepped out, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Your Majesty's rule has brought blessings to all the people of the world. Your Majesty's benevolence has touched the hearts of all the people."

The First Emperor smiled with satisfaction and said, "Feng Qing and Zhao Gao, you two are absolutely right. My rule is to lay the foundation for the eternal success of the Qin Dynasty."

Feng Quji stepped out, bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty's benevolence will surely be remembered forever and recorded in history!" His eyes were full of admiration for the First Emperor.

The First Emperor was even more pleased when he heard this. He nodded, seeming to be very happy with Feng Quji's words.

Prince Hu Hai stepped out of the crowd, bowed respectfully, and then said with a smile, "Father, your majesty is wise! You have created such a prosperous era and accomplished such great feats. You are truly unprecedented and will never be surpassed! The unification of the world today is truly a blessing for the people."

After hearing this, the First Emperor smiled with satisfaction. He nodded, his eyes fixed on Hu Hai, a trace of kindness flashing in his eyes.

Then, Li Si, Xin Qiliu and other ministers also bowed and expressed their congratulations: "We congratulate Your Majesty! Congratulations to the Great Qin!" Their voices rose one after another, echoing in the hall.

The entire hall was filled with a solemn and warm atmosphere. The First Emperor's eyes swept over his ministers, his heart filled with lofty ambitions.

At this moment, there was a sudden noisy sound outside the palace, and everyone couldn't help but turn their heads to look.

All I heard was someone outside shouting: "Report! Report to His Majesty! Urgent news from southern Xinjiang!" The sudden news plunged the entire palace into a tense atmosphere.

Upon hearing this news, the courtiers in the palace dispersed, leaving the center of the hall vacant. They all knew that the war in southern Xinjiang had always attracted much attention, and this urgent report undoubtedly attracted everyone's attention.

A scout swiftly entered the palace, holding a bamboo tube high in both hands, his expression solemn and respectful. He quickly walked to the center of the hall, knelt on one knee, and reported to the First Emperor: "Your Majesty, General Ren Qi, leading the Southern Xinjiang army, successfully conquered all of the Baiyue territory in southern Xinjiang a month ago. I am sending this messenger to report this."

The eunuch beside the First Emperor immediately stepped forward and took the bamboo tube from the scout. He carefully opened the tube, took out the battle report inside, and respectfully placed it on the desk in front of the First Emperor.

The First Emperor picked up the military report and began to read it. A look of delight gradually appeared on his face, and he was immediately overjoyed: "Well, well, well, this is a great achievement."

Inside the hall, ministers stood respectfully on either side. Li Si stepped forward and saluted. His voice was steady and powerful: "Your Majesty, now that the lands belonging to the Baiyue have been conquered, we should immediately establish counties and appoint officials of all levels to govern them. This will consolidate our Great Qin's rule over this land and ensure that the local people can live and work in peace and contentment."

The First Emperor nodded slightly, glanced at his ministers, and said in a deep voice, "What do you think?"

Gan Luo stepped out and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe Prime Minister Li is right. Establishing counties and selecting competent officials will ensure long-term peace and stability in the southern border."

Zhao Gao flattered him, saying, "Your Majesty is wise and wise. This important matter will naturally be decided by Your Majesty."

All the ministers echoed the sentiment, and the atmosphere in the hall was warm.

The First Emperor stood up, put his hands behind his back, paced for a moment, and then said loudly, "According to Li Qing's proposal, we will quickly formulate a plan for the establishment of counties and select capable officials to go to southern Xinjiang. There must be no mistakes!"

"We will follow your Majesty's orders!" the ministers responded in unison.

The First Emperor pondered for a moment before continuing, "I have decided to establish three prefectures in the Baiyue region: Guilin, Nanhai, and Xiangjun. Furthermore, General Ren Qi will lead the remaining 300,000 troops to continue garrisoning and ensure stability."

At this moment, Feng Quji stepped out to salute. His expression was slightly worried, and his voice was low and earnest. "Your Majesty, the land of Baiyue has been repeatedly rebellious by foreign tribes. These three counties are vast and complex in terrain. I am concerned that 300,000 troops will be difficult to garrison. If something unexpected happens, the consequences will be disastrous."

A brief silence fell in the hall as everyone pondered this question. After a moment, Wang Ben spoke, "Your Majesty, this place is indeed complex, as Prime Minister Feng has described. I believe we can build five military fortresses at Yuecheng Ridge, Dupang Ridge, Mengzhu Ridge, Qitian Ridge, and Dayu Ridge. Using this strategic location to control the entire area, we can strengthen control and defense of the Baiyue region. This will both conserve manpower and effectively stabilize the situation."

The First Emperor sat on the Dragon Throne, gazing intently at the people in the hall. His gaze seemed to penetrate a person's heart. After a moment's silence, he slowly spoke, "What do you think, my dear ministers?"

All the ministers bowed their heads in thought, no one daring to speak. After a long pause, Li Si stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe what the Marquis Tongwu has said is absolutely correct. Lingnan is a newly opened territory for the Great Qin, and we must pay close attention to it. The Marquis Tongwu's method will quickly stabilize the situation."

The First Emperor nodded, approving Li Si's suggestion. "Alright, let's do as Marquis Tongwu said. Send someone to summon Ren Qi and order him to continue garrisoning the three Lingnan counties. At the same time, strengthen the construction of military fortresses to ensure the stability of Lingnan."

Upon seeing this, all the ministers came forward to congratulate the First Emperor and praise his wise decision.

At this moment, an urgent report suddenly came from outside the palace, "Report, report to your majesty, urgent news from Jiuyuan!"